A plane has landed on the Thames near Rainham Marches today, the 21st of November at 2:30pm. All 42 passengers and 6 crew members are alive and accounted for, with only two passengers having been treated for minor injuries. An ongoing investigation has revealed the cause of the crash was a collision with a drone.
London City Airport reported that radar contact was lost with flight US132 at 2:31pm after the aircraft began its journey to Amsterdam. The pilot reported engine failure pre-crash and without enough power to redivert back to the airport, the pilot planned instead to make an emergency water landing in the Thames.
Nadine Johnson, one of the passengers who luckily went unharmed- and was unfortunate enough to experience the crash on her birthday- gave her props to the pilot, stating they were “a total legend for getting us down in one piece.”
All emergency services were on site quickly after the crash landing, including support by units from Kent and Essex. RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) Lifeboats towed passengers ashore with Essex ambulance crews carrying out medical checks. One passenger was taken to Queen Hospital in Romford with a suspected heart attack, but there are no other known injuries or hospitalizations.
In the midst of emergency, the nearby Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre stepped up to support the passengers, providing food, drinks, and a place to contact relatives and organize journeys home.
What was at first believed to be a bird strike, turned out to be a collision with two drones 1,500 metres east of London City Airport- British Transport Police reports- after finding drone debris in the engine. The aircraft is in the process of being retrieved for further investigation from the AAIB (Aircraft Accidents Investigation Branch).
21/11/24 16:00
Initial investigations carried out by the British Transport Police have found flight US132 collided with two drones 1,500 metres east of the airport, disabling the flight and causing the crash. Though it was originally reported to be bird strikes, drone debris has been found in initial examinations of the engines. Work is underway to recover the aircraft for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch. Investigations are underway to determine culprits and intent. No further information is known at this time.
21/11/24 15:35
Essex Police has reported all passengers and crew have been safely evacuated to shore from the aircraft. One passenger has been admitted to Queens Hospital in Romford with a suspected heart attack. Arrangements are in process to get passengers home or back to the London City Airport for further journey.
21/11/24 15:30
The (unverified) Twitter account for the nearby Purfleet Heritage and Military Centre declares they have been helping the cause by providing food and drinks for the passengers, as well as WiFi and phones to contact loved ones.
21/11/24 15:20
Essex Police confirms first passengers brought ashore on life rafts with ambulance crews now carrying out medical checks. The US Airways staff report 42 passengers, and 6 crew all accounted for, and 2 passengers being treated for minor injuries. Unverified Twitter account user Nadine Johnson (@Nadine63287412) claims to be one of the passengers of flight US132 and provided an image of what appears to be the view from the wing of the plane. She states that the pilot was a “total legend for getting us down in one piece.” Stay tuned for more updates as they arrive.
21/11/24 15:00
The official Essex Police Twitter account has confirmed that officers are at the scene of the “#Thamesplane”, with a RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) lifeboat also in attendance and another from Southend on the way. The aircraft landed 100 metres offshore of the Purfleet RSPB Reserve, and passengers are moving onto wings and into life rafts.
21/11/24 14:50
London City Airport has confirmed via Twitter that radar contact was lost with the aircraft (flight US132) at 2:31pm. The flight had just taken off from London City Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, when the pilot reported an engine failure. With no power to return to the airport, they planned an emergency water landing on the Thames.
21/11/24 14:40
The official London Fire Service Twitter account has confirmed the crash onto the Thames, affirming that all emergency services are attending the site, supported by fellow units from Kent and Essex. Thames river police and RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) are also en route to the scene. No information has been provided about the passengers at this time.
21/11/24 14:33
In breaking news, a tweet from unverified user @thamestweets reveals what seems to be a US Airways plane crash on the Thames near Rainham Marshes. Passengers appear to be in the process of disembarking from the aircraft. This is a developing story, we will keep you updated as information becomes available. Stay tuned for further updates.
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